Camp MOWGLIS
Overnight Summer Camp for Boys on Newfound Lake in New Hampshire
Camp Mowglis is a three, four, or seven-week summer camp for boys ages 7-15 on pristine Newfound Lake, surrounded by the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire, just 2.5 hours north of Boston. Every summer, we welcome around 100 boys to experience the natural beauty, make lifelong friends, learn exciting new skills, and disconnect from everyday life in search of something bigger.
Mowglis School of the Open
Our “School of the Open” program is based on the timeless values of honesty, integrity, compassion, and respect for others (including Mother Earth).
He may look the same when he returns home, but you’ll notice the change in subtle yet powerful ways:
- When your son stands tall in an unfamiliar place while making eye contact and shaking hands with strangers.
- He asks for new hiking boots for his birthday instead of the latest smartphone.
- He divvies up a group project and sets deadlines to keep team members on track.
Explore Our Instructional Activities
Pathways to Growth and Adventure
Our diverse range of activities, known as “Industries,” empower campers to explore new interests, develop skills, and build lifelong friendships.
We would love to welcome you to experience The Mowglis Way for yourself.
When you remove the 21st Century stress and strain, true magic has space to grow in the white space that remains.
Camp Mowglis is the world you wish you could create for your son — one where values are instilled, meaningful friendships are created, and life can be simple again.
The Camp Mowglis Mission
The mission of Camp Mowglis is to develop integrity, empathy, resilience, and leadership in young men through the time-tested and fun outdoor experiential program and community we call the “School of The Open.”
At the core of the Mowglis mission is a commitment to create youth of sturdy character.
The changes your son experiences here permeate through all areas of life.
And while he’ll be thrilled to reunite after his seven weeks away, he’ll also have a new pack: the Mowglis family. Friendships from Camp Mowglis have deep roots and provide a support network to carry your son throughout his life. Your son will always have a home here.
History
Camp Mowglis founder Elizabeth Ford Holt saw growth opportunities for boys slipping away as the pace and demands of daily life increased.
Young men needed to get back to basics. To learn life’s important lessons. To feed their souls, nourish their minds, and strengthen their bodies.
Mrs. Holt wanted to give boys a place to breathe. To build. And to belong.
Every summer, we host a small group of around 100 boys in the natural beauty of the New Hampshire mountains and disconnect from everyday life in search of something bigger.
Plan Your Son's Summer: Sessions and Pricing Details
We offer multiple session lengths and pricing levels, along with limited scholarships, to help families find the right fit for their budget
Timeless Memories: The Mowglis Gallery
Step into a world where over a hundred years of history and action unfold through captivating photos. Discover the legacy of Mowglis preserved in our incredible archives.
A noble vision that is as true today as it was over 100 years ago
For over a century, we’ve been guided by a commitment to integrity, innovation, and community. The values that laid the foundation of our journey remain at the heart of everything we do today. As we look to the future, we honor this legacy by continuing to inspire, empower, and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.
Where life-changing summers leave lasting memories.
Real Stories from Camp Mowglis Families
Discover how our unique approach to adventure, learning, and growth has shaped their lives and created memories that last a lifetime
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FAQs for Parents
You’ve probably got a lot of questions about the experience at Camp Mowglis. Here are the most common questions that we get, and their answers. If your specific question isn’t answered, please call 603-744-8095 or email Director Nick Robbins with ANY questions, and he’ll be happy to answer them!
FAQs for Campers
If you’ve got questions about what life is like at Camp Mowglis, here are some of the most common questions we get asked (and their answers of course). Do you have a question that isn’t answered here? Please shoot us a note on the Contact Us page, and we’ll get right back to you.
Who owns Mowglis?
Mowglis is owned and operated by the non-profit Holt-Elwell Memorial Foundation, whose trustees hire, advise, guide and support a professional camp director. Mowglis receives hundreds of generous contributions each year from alumni, parents and friends to help close the gap between tuition and expenses.
Describe the Mowglis program.
At Mowglis, boys are immersed in outdoor life. We offer a range of traditional camp activities, and encourage boys to find something at which they can excel and gain enjoyment and confidence from that experience. The program encourages skill development with campers working on requirements in activity areas they choose and earning ribbons for achieving competence.
Describe the Mowglis Community.
Through cabin life and daily duties, weekly hiking and camping trips, music and singing, and our unique crew program, our campers develop a strong sense of community. The Mowglis program emphasizes respect for nature, encourages personal growth, fosters life-long friendships, and is a ton of fun!
What are the facilities like at Mowglis?
The Mowglis campus covers 155 acres on the northeast corner of Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. The main camp is situated on 55 acres located directly on the lake with over 1,300 feet of shoreline. There are over 30 rustic buildings.
How are the staff trained and certified?
Before the arrival of the campers the counselors participate in a rigorous two week orientation. All our counselors are American Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid. Key waterfront personnel are WSI (Water Safety Instructor) certified, and Lifeguard-certified through the American Red Cross. All counselors are certified in Wilderness First Aid. Counselors who drive campers are at least 21 years old.
Is Mowglis accredited?
What does this mean? The American Camp Association sets the highest standards in the industry. Being ACA accredited indicates a level of professionalism in camping and means we have voluntarily taken the time to insure our program and site meets the strictest codes of safety and excellence. Learn more about ACA accreditation.
What is it like to live at camp?
At Mowglis you live with other campers your age in open-air dormitories. Each boy is assigned a bunk and a set of shelves for personal belongings. You can pack for camp in a duffle bag or a trunk. However, once you unpack your trunk will be stored until the end of camp. You sleep with sheets and blankets and your sleeping bag will be used for overnight trips. You will have the chance to swim every day. We have a campfire circle every night.
Do I get to choose what I want to do?
Yes! Mowglis offers 16 different activities and what you do is your own choice. We have a daily schedule where campers sign up for instruction in their chosen activities and there are also open periods when you can try something just for fun. When you find an “industry” you like you can sign up to spend more time practicing that activity, acquiring new skills and maybe earning a ribbon.
Will I get to play my favorite sport at camp?
At Mowglis you will get to try new sports and activities that might not be available at home like archery, riflery, rock climbing, rowing crew, windsurfing and woodworking. Our boys play a lot of pick-up basketball and soccer…and tether-ball at Mowglis is legendary! Many of our boys enjoy a break from the sports they practice and play at home during the fall, winter and spring.
What are meals like?
You will eat with other campers your age and staff “family style” for all meals. Meals are delicious, home-made, and kid-friendly. Some favorites are spaghetti, fajitas, pizza, stir-fry, and BBQ. Dessert is served every night and many lunches. Campers take turns as dining room helpers.
Will I go on trips?
Yes! You will go on different types of trips depending on your age and ability. We go hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing and kayaking. It doesn’t matter if you have never done these things before, you will have the opportunity to participate and we will not ask you to do more than you can handle
Wall of love
Hear first-hand from our incredible community of customers.
Great place for boys to grow into men
My sons started going to Camp Mowglis when they were 8 and 12 years old. We live in France and my youngest barely spoke English. The first year, he was signed up for just half the summer. When I came to visit them after 3 weeks, my youngest said that if he couldn't stay until the end of the summer, he would never speak to me again! 10 years later, at age 18, he still goes back as a junior counselor. My oldest has also been a member of the senior staff. Mowglis has been wonderful for my children. In spite of being and all boys camp, there is something maternal about it. Everyone knows everyone, no one gets lost in the crowd, all are taken care of. Many parents are hesitant to send their children to a seven week camp. In seven weeks, kids really have the time to let go of any family problems they might have. They have ample time to try all of the activities and make deep friendships. My children have never thought it too long. In fact, they think that an additional week would be cool. At the end of every summer, I can see how much they have grown up, become more independent and self confident. They have really absorbed the good values that camp teaches. During many summers, my children were able to experience many activities (hiking, camping, axemen-ship,sailing) in a safe and encouraging environment. Speaking of environment, there are no video games, phones, ipods allowed in camp. Children are able to have several weeks without screens in their faces. They can get "unhooked". Social relationships are the priority. As a result, kids make friends for life. Camp is on a beautiful lake surrounded by pines, the staff are as nice as could be and the values that camp exemplifies are humane and respectful of the environment. I highly recommend Camp Mowglis.
My grandfather, father and both uncles and I all graduated from Mowglis. This place has had an enormous impact on my life and the man I am today. The skills and mindset imparted on me by staff while I was a camper has had a positive impact on many parts of my life. Because of Mowglis, I am a better teacher, a better student and a better partner to my significant other. Mowglis instilled in me an appreciation for the outdoors that remains with me even today. Mowglis was such an experience for me that as an adult, while finishing graduate school, I found myself BACK at Mowglis again... and remain there even now, returning in the summers as a counselor. There is no institution that I have ever been a part of, which includes academic institutions and the military, that have had as profound of an impact on me as Mowglis has. I could not recommend it higher.
I can't believe this. I attended Camp Mowglis in 1952 and 1953 when I was 8 and 9 years old. Its as I remember it still. My son (45 years old) may be icesailing on Newfound Lake this weekend (3/5/2016)
This is my son's 4th summer at Mowglis, and I can't say enough good things about the camp. Every summer I'm amazed at how much my son "grows up" during his time at camp. He returns more more mature and self-assured, and I think it's thanks to the magic of Mowglis -- the special mix of fun, challenge, and independence that we've only found at Mowglis!
I have had a long and enriching relationship with Mowglis, starting in the summer of 2002 when I was nine years old. It was my first time away from home for longer than a few nights at a time, and certainly the first time I had been in an environment such as this. The initial experience was more than enough to cause me to keep coming back for the last 12 years, first as an older camper, then as a junior staff member, and now on into more senior counselor and coaching positions. Easily the most consistently formative experience of my life, being at Mowglis has taught me to grow both as a strong individual, while also allowing me to gain respect for the people around me, and friendships I developed there remain as strong as they were back when I was a camper. With a strong background in experiential education and a well established integration with the natural world, the camp continues to teach boys of all ages to disconnect from our technology-driven society, take a step back, and absorb all of the wonderful things one might find on a beautiful summer day in the mountains, or by the side of the lake. Numerous activities, or industries, based on both individual and group-based growth equip the campers with skills they will take with them years and years after they graduate. Whether or not they choose to join the staff, or even remain in close contact with the camp, individuals that have been touched by Camp Mowglis carry their experiences forward to become well versed, capable people. I know I would be nothing like I am now if not for the lessons learned and relationships sown as a result of growing in a wonderful place like this, and can safely say I regard Mowglis as a second home. We could all use a bit more time outside, and I can't think of a better place to do it.
Meet the people who make camp magic happen.
Our Team
Dedicated to guiding boys toward growth and self-discovery.
Nick Robbins
Diana Robbins
Tommy Greenwell
Jay Gulitti
Bartolo Governanti
Holly Taylor
Be Part of Something Extraordinary
Lead. Inspire. Grow.
We’re hiring for the upcoming camp season! Join a team dedicated to shaping young lives through adventure, leadership, and tradition. Whether you’re returning or starting fresh, become a vital part of the Mowglis story.
